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Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer has announced that the Supreme Court of Ohio will convene in official session in Shelby County on Wednesday, Oct. 15. The visit is part of the court’s semiannual Off-Site Court Program.
Oral arguments in four cases scheduled for that date will be heard by the seven justices of the Supreme Court beginning at 9 a.m. at the Shelby County Courthouse, 100 E. Court St., in Sidney.
The Court includes Chief Justice Moyer and Justices Paul E. Pfeifer, Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Maureen O’Connor, Terrence O’Donnell, Judith Ann Lanzinger and Robert R. Cupp.
“It is a great honor that Shelby County has been selected by the Supreme Court of Ohio for the Off-Site Court Program this fall,” said Sidney Municipal Court Judge Donald G. Luce, who’s serving as one of three hosts along with Shelby County Common Pleas Judge James F. Stevenson and Shelby County Probate/Juvenile Judge Norman P. Smith. “The Shelby County community is excited that all seven justices will sit in the Common Pleas Courtroom and hear cases advocated by counsel. We hope as many local students as possible take advantage of this wonderful education opportunity, which is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
The Off-Site Court Program, initiated by Chief Justice Moyer in 1987, has gained national recognition as a model program for education about the judiciary. The program enhances students’ understanding of the legal system by providing an opportunity for hundreds of students to attend and observe the proceedings of the Supreme Court in person and to interact with justices, attorneys and court staff.
High school students from throughout Shelby County will participate. The students and their teachers will receive curriculum material to study before the session, including summaries of the specific cases to be argued. Local attorneys will team with educators at each participating school to explain Ohio’s judicial system and review case materials. An orientation session for participants will be held at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 19 in the common pleas courtroom.
Local schools that have been invited to participate include: Anna High School, Botkins High School, Fairlawn High School, Fort Loramie High School, Houston High School, Jackson Center High School, Joint Vocational School, Lehman High School, Russia High School, Sidney Christian High School and Sidney High School.
On the morning of Oct. 15, students will attend a special briefing during which they may ask questions and interact with the justices. In addition, students from each participating school will be assigned to attend one of the oral arguments. After the assigned case has been argued, each group of students will meet with the case attorneys for a debriefing and discussion of the legal issues in the argument they just heard.
“We are honored to host the Justices of the Supreme Court of Ohio and their Off-Site Court Program,” said Thomas W. Kerrigan II, president of the Shelby County Bar Association. “I’ve had the honor of appearing before the Ohio Supreme Court in a case I represented last year in the magnificent facility in Columbus. This event here in the Shelby County Courthouse will provide a rare opportunity for Sidney and Shelby County students and community members to actively witness the workings of our state’s high court.”
Chief Justice Moyer said the Shelby County session will mark the 56th time the Supreme Court has heard oral arguments outside Columbus during the past 21 years.
“The idea of this program is to bring the Court closer to the public and especially young people,” Chief Justice Moyer said. “Our off-site sessions have enabled 31,970 Ohioans, 24,165 of them high school students, to observe the Supreme Court in action without leaving their communities.”
A video illustrating the program, including footage from past Off-Site Court sessions, is available through the Supreme Court’s Office of Public Information at 614.387.9250. The video and background information about the program can be viewed online by visiting the Supreme Court Web site at www.sconet.state.oh.us/introduction/offsite_court/default.asp.
Supreme Court Contacts: Chris Davey or Bret Crow, 614.387.9250
Local Contacts: Dawn Bailey – 937.498.7255; Bonnie Gold – 937.498.0011, ext. 202; or Lori Moore - 937.498.7808